Ideas Needed for Mommy Breaks

What? We get breaks? I didn't get that memo. Just kidding.

Seriously though.....VACUUM! No one bothers me when I vacuum. They pretty much leave me alone when I'm cleaning the toilet too. I get up early and I sit in the tub and read a good book.

Tell them you have to go to the bathroom and lock the door. I used go to the bathroom at least 30 times a day!

Take a hot shower...

Going to sound silly...but I started trying to keep more regular with a skin care routine. I take a few minutes to do the steps of the cleansing, exfoliate or peel, wax eyebrows if I need to, moisturize, put on eye "stuff" to try to get rid of the puffies and dark circles. Just doing SOMETHING simple for myself does wonders. I don't have my husband around right now, so the only time I get to do that is when the kids are in bed. Never thought plucking stray eyebrows would be considered "pampering" myself! LOL

I also have a very small, tight-spaced house and feel like I can never get a break. Occasionally when I'm really at wits end, I'll tell my husband that I need a bit of peace and quiet. I go up to my room, lock the door, and read or watch TV for awhile. He isn't always happy about it, and doesn't seem to understand that I need a break once in awhile.

Find some relaxing meditation music, put it on your iPod, put on some headphones, lock yourself in your room (or bathroom), close your eyes, and listen to it for a few minutes. Or if you need a longer break, have your husband watch the kids and listen to relaxing music then (or if your kids still nap, relax then). Or if they're really driving you crazy, tell your husband to watch the kids and take a walk around the neighborhood by yourself. Sometimes it helps to get outside and away from all the craziness, even if it's just for five minutes.

Hi S.,

I regularly schedule time with my husband for he and my son to go out of the house and take off on a fun outing. This is usually done on the weekends, as my guy works long hours during the week.

Can your husband take the kids to the park for an hour or so when he's not working? That might help.

Also, putting a scarf on the handle of your bedroom door and going in there alone, with a cup of tea or a glass of wine, to do whatever you like--- let your family know that when the scarf is flying, Daddy's on Duty. Talk to him, first of course, about when would be the best times for you to 'escape', and then stick with the plan. I've learned the hard way that being 'nice' and *not* taking the time I asked for eventually made me feel resentful. You do it All Day. He can handle it for a while solo!:)

Clean out a closet and make it into your tiny space. Every house has clutter. Have less of it.

Going to the bathroom never worked for me. I swear there were times my kinds only wanted to talk to me through the closed bathroom door. Like maybe there was a secret mommy escape hatch in the bathroom. :-)
If you honestly don't have the space to carve out enough room for a comfy chair for you to sit and have a cup of tea or glass of wine and just relax, then send hubby and kids on an errand, to his Mom's house, for a walk etc. A friend of mine made his 'man cave' in the garage. He has a phone, a TV, some chairs, a table and a small heater, he even carpeted his garage. Yes he parks his cars in there.
Hopefully now that spring is FINALLY getting up north, you can get a comfortable chair and a spot in the yard.
Do you have a basement you could finish and have a den or craft room for yourself?

Take a long bubble bath with candles and your favorite music playing (careful by the water!). J., single mother of twins, age 2

If husband is taking care of kids, try taking a walk or bike ride or going for a drive. Listen to music on headphones while you read a book or take a bath. Make your bedroom into a sanctuary so that hubby and kids can run all over the house while you sit and relax a little in your bedroom.

I love this question and can't wait to see the answers. I tried scrapbooking, but can't focus with people asking me things constantly. I have to LOCK the bedroom and bathroom doors and he has to make the kids leave me alone. I should have started when they were little "No bothering mommy when she is in the tub."

I ANNOUNCE that "mommy is off duty" and they leave me alone.

That's the eqivalent to waving a white flag and I just need a break from the noise, the mess and constant "mom, mom, MOM!"

read, take a shower, do a yoga DVD

When everyone is asleep-read-and say to yourself "Mommy's relaxing".

My little man is too little to close a door on. So I carve out my space in the kitchen in the wee hours of the morning. I get up, get dressed to shoes, make a cup of tea or coffee and either read or fuss on my laptop. I am a much better person that day.

Hide in the closet and call a girlfriend. No kidding, my best friend does this. It's funny when her kids find her and I can hear her shooing them away.

I'd read a book in my bedroom with the door closed. If I have a good book, I can block out a lot :)